Pokaiņu meža Stirnu buks

After a wild jumping around in hills and valleys of Alūksne highland, in its fourth race "Stirnu buks 2017" goes to the misterious Pokaiņi forest!

Start/finish:  Information center of Pokaiņi forest, Naudīte municipality, Dobele district. GoogleMap here!

Race schedule: HERE

Detailed distance maps: bit.ly/PokainuMezs 

GPX files of distances available here (click on „Save link as”):  "Vāvere - GPX", "Zaķis - GPX", "Stirnu buks - GPX", "Lūsis - GPX"

Although Pokaiņi forest is located in Zemgale lowland, its relief doesn’t look like one at all – here are both high hillocks and deep valeys, and also forest stands of diverse age and content. But most important – unique feeling of mistery to Pokaiņi forest is given by differently-sized stone stacks.

Stone rivers and stacks, uncountable smaller stone piles and peculiar larger stones - hermits underlie all the mystical guesses about this forest. Some geologists have a thought that this place is formed by glacier influence, others believe that Pokaiņi is an ancient sacral place for our ancestors in which people have never lived, but only came here with a wish for something or to do a ritual. Beside,s in a couple of  hillocks couple remains of complex constructions are found with a radio-location.

However – while making the tracks, Stirnu Buks team faced some inexplicable things, but still we are absolutely sure that Pokaiņi forest is a special place and, of course, it is very friendly towards our runners! In Pokaiņi we all can find something that we need – peace, harmony, beautiful nature or an uplifting power, which helps to improve health and gives a chance for all of us to become better.

We can only add, that the runners of both longest distances will visit the long Krievkalni dam, which is covered with forests, while Bobcats will have a look at the lake Vipēdis and Smiltnieki castle mound on which in distant ages the witches were burned.

In this area already in 2015 we jumped for the first time, only then we got to know the wonderful lake Zebrus. Now it’s time to explore the area of Pokaiņi forest!

We hope you will find and feel that special thing that is needed for you the most! See you at Pokaiņi!

I feel it in my heart – earth, trees, grass, flowers. I bow my head in the front of Mother Earth and connect with its energies. I am united with the Earth.

More about Pokaiņi forest here: mammadaba.lv and latvia.travel!